Dutch industry to join NH90 helicopter sustainment phase

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) has entered into an agreement with NHIndustries (NHI) to extend support for the sustainment phase of the NH90 helicopter.

Under the terms of the agreement, GKN Aerospace’s business division Fokker Technologies will work alongside Airborne (NL) to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul activities (MRO) for the NH90 helicopters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).

The agreement marks the conclusion of the decision on the entire standard parts package to be delivered for the fleet.

NHIndustries president Vincent Dubrule said: "NHI is actively partnering with international suppliers in order to improve the availability of platforms and reducing cost of maintenance for the operators of the NH90."

Manufactured by NHIndustries, the NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter developed in response to Nato requirements for a battlefield helicopter that can also operate in naval environments.

"NHI is actively partnering with international suppliers in order to improve the availability of platforms and reducing cost of maintenance for the operators of the NH90."

The Dutch MEA representative Pieter Taal said: "We are happy to see that after a thorough preparation the cooperation between NHI and Dutch industries will now lead to a substantial role for these capable companies in maintaining the state-of-the art NH90 helicopter."

In 2013, Fokker carried out the first standard part delivery for the NH90 helicopter.

The company will now officially perform the entire standard parts package .

Under authorisation from Airbus Helicopters, Airborne currently offers ML1 and ML2 rotor blade repair activities for operators of the NH90 helicopter.

The company will soon achieve the ML3 maintenance qualification level, which will allow it to offer services as a subcontractor of Airbus Helicopters to operators in The Netherlands, Belgium and potentially other countries.

Image: NHI staff and and members of the MEA. Photo: courtesy of NHIndustries.